It’s here, at last. I got my Nintendo 3DS on Thursday alongside copies of Pilotwings Resort from Nintendo and Super Monkey Ball 3D from Sega. As many of you will know, I’ve been excited about the 3DS right from the start. So, now I’ve got my own (In Aqua Blue - Team Blue FTW), has it lived up to my high expectations, or has it left me disappointed and frustrated like the current PSN outage?

The first impressions I ever had of a 3DS in person were at my Student Union, where i got to try out Pilotwings Resort and Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition. Upon starting using the thing for the first time, back then, my immediate thought was “Oh my god”. The 3D effect, even though I had known it was coming and had heard numerous times that it worked, blew my mind. Here was a little device which was opening a window to a tiny world beyond, where dinky toy planes are piloted by caricatures or Ryu beats the snot out of some fat guy (I, uh, I don’t know much about Street Fighter. Only one I ever owned was Alpha 3 Turbo...Or something like that).

To my surprise, the experience was repeated when I first started using the 3D on my own 3DS. Somehow, each time I come to use it, it continues to impress. The only times I have turned the 3D off have been times when I’m playing Augmented Reality games like Face Raiders which require moving the console around. In standard games, and indeed in the menu, the 3D adds too much eye candy to turn it off. And further than that, it genuinely improves the experience, far beyond simply looking pretty.

What the 3D does, is make the depth we’ve been seeing since the PlayStation/Nintendo 64 era relevant. Whereas before we were looking at videos of expansive exotic locales, with the 3DS it’s like holding those places in the palms of your hand. A window to, rather than a video screen of, far flung places of adventure and fantasy. And this, in turn, makes the experience not only more engaging and visually arresting, but also in many ways easier to interact with. With the 3D in Pilotwings, you can deftly manoeuvre your plane or glider or jet pack around obstacles - even those which partially obstruct your view - with an ease unattainable in 2D. The ability to actually perceive the depth makes a considerable difference to your navigation abilities.

3D is something of an enigma. It’s long been something we’ve strived for in the world of technology, but nobody’s ever really demonstrated that it’s more than a novelty - in video. That I think is a big part of the problem, we’ve been too hung up on the idea of “3D Movies!” or “3D Sports!” to really consider that neither of those things benefits, in a significant manner, from the addition of 3D. It looks pretty, sure, but not enough to justify the downsides.

In games though, the advantages become apparent as soon as the dorky glasses are ditched. No longer is the screen dim or the experience cumbersome. With the Parallax Barrier Auto-stereoscopic 3D of the 3DS, you see the benefit, sans drawbacks, and begin to feel that 3D is not pointless, it’s just that it’s been misused.

The other thing it’s made me realise, from watching the 3D Video Nintendo has installed on the systems “For a Limited Time Only”, is that most live action footage does not lend itself to current 3D technology. Certain scenes in the video look great - shots of a bear by a stream, a flower opening and some fireworks at night for example. Others however are jarring and bizarre to behold, notably shots of dense forestry spring to mind. This suggests to me that 3D video works best with simpler compositions, likely because the eye is under less strain from being tricked by fewer points of reference.

To this end, I wonder if 3D video would be best served by animation. Having never watched a 3D movie (Owing to the fact I wear glasses and find wearing the 3D glasses over them uncomfortable on top of not being particularly keen on the screen dimming effect) I can only speculate based on my 3DS experiences. However, I find myself feeling that if Nintendo were to start selling 3D movies for the 3DS I would be interested in, say, Toy Story 3 or other animated features but would skip pretty much any live action release.

So far, I’ve been having a lot of fun playing with the 3DS. The Circle Pad is a revelation in analogue control, and begs the question of how Sony got it so wrong on the PSP. The circle pad is better even than some analogue joysticks of the current era. It’s just so comfortable and easy to use, I sometimes wonder how I ever got by without it.

My two choices of launch games are, so far, holding my attention well. Pilotwings Resort is a liberating adventure in flight which can be as relaxing or thrilling as you like. Super Monkey Ball 3D, meanwhile, offers three distinct experiences (Monkey Ball, Monkey Race and Monkey Fight) of which one is supremely enjoyable (Monkey Ball) and the other two are fun in small doses, if a little unpolished in places.

I have yet to try out all the features of the system - I’ve not fired up AR Games: Augmented Reality yet, so my AR Cards remain to be tested and 3DS Sound remains to be explored - so there’s still more fun to be found with this little box of tricks. I’ll be back with fuller impressions later.    

Ah Nintendo...How the times have changed. When I was a kid, I was raised on a strict diet of PlayStation (later PlayStation2) and admired your systems from afar, until I got into the portable gaming scene with your delightful Game Boy Advance. And I'm crazy, so I only ever had that first one. The ridiculously hard to see one. But I ADORED it. Mario Kart: Super Circuit? I played the shit out of that. Eventually the damn battery died and so the Save stopped working.

Ah 2010, what a long and crazy year you have been. As you draw to a close, it's time to reflect on the year that was, with all the craziness that went on. But when it comes to games, I find, in retrospect, I am somewhat drifting out of the inner circle. Maybe it's the easier access to alcohol, or the fact that since I now live in a city the majority of the time instead of a village and therefore can go out and do things with literally zero hassle, but I find that the thing I turn to consoles for most these days is TV. Mainly because I use PlayTV on my PlayStation 3 so I can PVR stuff at University. 
  
Still, I played quite a few games this year. Admittedly, the fact that the list below is so short is down to the fact that I only played around 10-12 of 2010's games and some of them in no way deserve recognition, hence aren't on the list. However I played a lot more games from 2009 and earlier, including some on Steam for Mac, and a number of iOS games which came out very late in 2009. 
 
Still, gaming this year sure was exciting. What with Move and Kinect coming out (I own the former, will not touch the latter), E3 being a pretty crazy awesome spectacle just like the good old days, Nintendo announcing the 3DS...Yeah, a lot went on this year when it comes to gaming and, whether you noticed me or (more likely) not, I was there watching it unfold. I'm part of that pseudo-hardcore fringe now. Yes, I pay attention to all the big announcements and I have all the platforms, but I don't play all the big games and I don't get that emotionally involved any more. I have other things going on which I find more engaging for whatever reason. 
 
I'm more likely to be found killing it in Zuma's Revenge on OS X or Bejeweled 2 for iOS than I am to be grinding through Fallout: New Vegas. But you could also come across me fighting zombies and crummy inventory systems in Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition using Move. 
 
As for 2011, I don't know much about what it holds in store games-wise for me. I might be sucked right back into the very core of the hardcore movement, or I might continue to drift around the edges, watching Quick Looks and playing the hits, but only to relax between other stuff. I do know these two things though: 
 

1. I am buying a 3DS and, god-willing, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater 3D will be out in my region in 2011 so I can buy that too.
2. Killzone 3 with Move Support? I'm sorry, but there is no ay in hell I'm not playing the SHIT out of that. I loved Killzone 2 - it netted my 2009 GOTY Nod.

Best of 2010

Jensonb: Best of 2010

	1. Disney Epic Mickey Game of the Year | Wii Game of the Year
	2. Halo: Reach Xbox 360 Game of the Year | Best First Person Shooter for 2010
	3. F1 2010 Racing Game of the Year
	4. ModNation Racers PlayStation 3 Game of the Year
	5. Green Day: Rock Band Music Game of the Year
	6. Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth DS Game of the Year
	7. Call of Duty: Black Ops Multi-Platform Game of the Year

 Dear family; friends; casual acquaintances; people who I don't know reading this online and Google Spiderbots,  

It's that time of the year again. You know? The most wonderful one. That one. Christmastime. Yeah? You probably noticed what with all the pretty lights and tinsel and goodwill to all men and sudden inexplicable rise in quality of television. Which also means it's time for me to write my Christmas Letter, a tradition which - despite the protestations of many -  shows no signs of ending. You know? Like mince pies.

Now for some of you this is your first time receiving one of these letters, and some of you who have received one before have preposterously short atten...Oh hey look, a bunny rabbit!

Where was I? Oh right, explaining the letter.

Every year, I sit down and ask myself a simple question: "What kind of year has it been?".

Then, in the letter, I ramble on and on, at times quite tediously, in answer. And because I'm a wacky goofball, I usually litter it with jokes. Mostly the stuff I didn't have time to say in the year that was. Why? Because why the hell not, that's why.

So anyway, let's set about answering that question. What kind of year has it been? Well...A damned long one! I don't know about you, but January 2010 feels like so long ago I can barely remember it. Maybe it's the quite preposterous number of things which happened this year, or the way everything seems to have changed, or maybe it's the fact I'm a Student and therefore have consumed what is surely a dangerous amount of alcohol.

No, just kidding folks. The only DANGEROUS amount of alcohol is none.

Just think, this time last year, me and many of my peers were waiting around for the sadistic system known as "UCAS" to let us know our fate. I was in College and almost all my friends were 17, which means there was no nightlife to speak of.

How times have changed.

And look at all the other stuff. This year, amongst the achievements to my name are, sleep (Drunk) in a Disneyland Paris Hotel bathroom; move to University; spend an hour on a stage telling my fellow College leavers how awesome we are; go to Prom with a date AND pass Year 13 whilst basically sleeping through most of the Exam period - thank YOU inexplicably high marks in January Exams*!

*Seriously, I have no idea why they were so high. I thought I'd failed them.

Yes, it's been one hell of a year. A year in which I, repeatedly, discarded almost all of my hair and started reviewing drinks on the internet for...Some reason. You know now that I write that down, it seems even weirder...Still...Go watch those reviews... 

Still, by far the most exciting part of the year was moving to Portsmouth where, to paraphrase a song, I've got some friends that I may hardly know, but we've had some times I wouldn't trade for the world.

Man, I hate it when people pretend to be deep by using the lyrics of a song, don't you? Doesn't that just make you want to punch them in the face? Well please don't do that, I'm still typing. It's hard to type with broken glasses and a black eye you know. I speak from experience.

Also, some stuff happened in the wider world, but it's mostly very depressing. But...Uh...Hey, Toy Story 3 came out. So it's not all bad. Oh and they brought Golden Grahams back. Some of you have no idea why that's amazing, but I assure you, it's like the best thing that ever happened in the world of cereal.

You know, speaking of Toy Story 3, I saw a lot of good movies this year...So there you go, there's some good news from the wider world. It was a good year for cinema.

Still reading? Good...A lot of people duck out after the second or third paragraph after they realise I'm just as annoying in writing as I am out loud. In return for your persistence, I have some happy news: IT"S SNOWING! I literally glanced at the window as I was writing this paragraph and it's started snowing again! on Christmas Eve ! That's in-freaking-credible!

Yeah, as you may be aware, I never grew up.

I'm still a kid at heart. 

Anyway, I think I've taken up enough of your time now. Plus I want to get this sent at about Midday. So then...Have a Merry Christmas; Happy Holidays; Happy Hannukah; Kwazy Kwanza; Solemn, Dignified Ramadan and a Happy New Year.

Yours,
Paul Douglas

PS: Okay, NOW you can hit me.

PPS: OW! Hey, it wasn't mandatory! Jeez.    

Counter Culture Weekly is back, once again, with another healthy dose of Pop-Culture related madness! Up for debate this week are free comics - and which are worth YOUR nothing; Law & Order; Heroes; FlashForward; Scrubs; Steam for Mac; rich guys flying around in metal suits which for some reason have been painted red; Scarlett Johansson and how hot she is (SO hot) and so much more! It’s Counter Culture Weekly baby, get in or GET OUT!
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I've noticed something lately...Over the past couple of years, I've changed quite a bit. Hitting the WayBack Machine, I remember back in 2007 and 2008, I was way into the gaming and technology subculture. There was seemingly no limit to my appetite for gaming culture. And that, clearly, is what led me here, to Giant Bomb. And it's a great site. A full-on celebration of gaming culture & related tomfoolery.
 
It's been a lot of fun.
 
But, lately, I've found myself drifting over to...I guess you'd call it pop culture? It's accompanied my pivot towards my eventual career aspirations. I'm heading to University to study Television & Broadcast Production. Eventually, I aim to go into broadcasting. True story, my dream job is to have a late night talk show in the "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien" (My personal favourite Talk Show of all time) vein. More broadly though, my career and my passions have shifted a lot to video - film and, especially, web video and television.
 
It's not like I don't still love playing video games - I just put Portal on my Mac and it's delightful to go through it again. I've spent quite a bit of time in the Halo: Reach Beta (Enough to notice myself getting better at Halo; to know the Elites, the Needlers & the Grenades are overpowered and to conclude that Halo+Jetpacks= TOTALLY FUCKING AWESOME). It's more that my interest int he world around them has diminished.
 
I started Counter Culture Weekly to cover Pop Culture news & discussions and, looking back on that decision now, it's telling about what's going on in my head. My career aspirations have pushed my passions towards the entertainment industry, particularly where it involves video.
 
That's why my Giant Bomb Profile has been having such sporadic activity lately. Whilst I'm still loving the videos and craziness, I find my personal input is less and less valuable. I feel more and more like a bit of an outsider. I've been spending more time in my life on tings like music, drinking, going out to places, girls and, like I said, TV/Film/Web Video. Heck I created a super awesome drinks review show.
 
I got to wondering if I even really belonged on Giant Bomb still. I decided I did, because I still love the place to bits, but luckily the solution to my dilemma appeared in the guise of Alex Navarro and Matt "Boss of Bosses" Rorie. Screened.com is Giant Bomb for the stuff I care most about. I'm already in love with Screened and I only joined a couple days ago.  I also want to take this opportunity to remind you all that I TOTALLY FUCKING CALLED IT (Alex I mean) - and reiterate how cheesed off I am that I was directly lied to re: Alex joining Whiskey. It's mean to toy with people's emotions. :( :P
 
So anyway, what am I getting at?
 
I guess what I'm saying is, this is my new Premiere Whiskey Media Profile. It'll be the more active account.
 
I'm not ditching The Giant Bomb, I'll still be around for the wacky hijinks, but my home is Screened.
 
Yours,
Jens

In the run up to the 2008 Presidential Election, I outlined why it was that I, an out-of-country observer, felt that it was so important that Barack Obama be elected to the highest office in America. Now, it is time for the United Kingdom’s General Election. And once again, I want to get my thoughts down in writing.

My politics are best summarised in the phrase “March of Progress Socialism”. I am unashamedly Left Wing, because I believe that the existence of The State is right, and necessary. People simply cannot be expected to do everything for themselves all the time. It’s not right. It’s not fair. It doesn’t work. We all need a helping hand from time to time. And whether it’s as small as a little extra money to pay for our children’s wellbeing or as large as our time in Education, it’s all important.

Right is Wrong

The right wing would have us believe that all The State does is meddle in our affairs and give out handouts to scum. They are wrong. They’re fundamental politics are wrong. They have lost sight of the bigger picture.

It’s not always their fault. Many of them turned to the right for good reasons. Perhaps because of some injustice that was done to them, perhaps because they have been misled by the press into blaming the left or a left-wing government for something that has happened in the world.

But the fact is, the right wing simply doesn’t represent the views and needs of the many. In fact, in a lot of cases (See the Tea Party Activists in the United States for an example), the right wing isn’t even a good deal for the people who support it. It’s built on ideas which sound great, in theory, but which really don’t add up in the real world.

David Cameron’s Conservative Party is the embodiment of this disconnect. David claims to stand for “The Great Ignored”. He claims he understands our problems, he says we need change to Fix Our Broken Society. All three of these insinuations are completely false. Cameron the Chameleon is nothing but a spin doctor working for the interests of his corporate paymasters like Lord Ashcroft. This is a man who claims Nelson Mandela as a personal hero - but who was only too happy to be wined and dined by the leaders of Apartheid South Africa whilst the great man was still imprisoned for daring to question Apartheid.

Who are the Great Ignored? Cameron pretends the majority of Britain’s Middle and Working Class folks are. That’s not true. They’re not conservative at all. In fact, “The Great Ignored” just means the rich and privileged, the bigots & the posh, the dying breeds of a forgotten era. The fact is, Cameron and his supporters are a minority. We have a relatively Democratic system. Those people are not ignored, but their collective will is less than that of the rest of the population - who are Left and Centre-Left.

And Cameron knows it. And he hates it. David and his cronies know that with a truly democratic system, such as the alternative vote system, their kind would never again control this great land. And so they oppose it. They don’t want us to exert the full extent of our collective will, because they can only win under the First Past The Post system we currently have. So, unique of the three main parties - and despite pledging to “Fix Our Broken Politics” - they oppose the Alternative Vote System

The right wing is selfishness personified. The actions of the Tory Party show nothing but self-interest. They have no compassion. They want to give massive tax cuts to the rich, whilst they pull vital financial support from needy families and cut spending in our state schools.

In essence, they want to create a New Age of Privilege. David calls it “The Big Society”. I call it abhorrent.

And I won’t be a part of it. This is not the time for Cameron and his Short Change. Progress must go on.

Turn Left, Go Forth.

I support The Labour Party for Government.

Labour’s agenda isn’t based on self-interest or pie-in-the-sky idealism, but on offering real help and support to people who really need it. A Future Fair For All is the only future which will help the March of Progress. We cannot afford to turn back now because mistakes have been made. The way to win is to learn from the mistakes, correct the strategy, and plow on ahead.

Labour will not Tax the poor to offer a break to the rich. Labour will have the rich pay their fair share to help provide vital services, as well as help for those who need it most. Labour is not going to cut teachers from our schools or nurses from our hospitals.

The Tories would plunge us back into a Thatcherite Dark Age. Labour would lead us further on the path to prosperity.

The March of Progress is so important. The March of Progress creates equality - it’s what killed slavery and is helping to kill racism and sexism in the world. Only through working together can we achieve it though. David Cameron says that’s what The Big Society’s about. It’s not. What he’s not telling you is when he says “People need to work together” in The Big Society, he’s missing the word “you”. As in “You People need to work together”. Because David isn’t one of us, and he doesn’t care about what we need. The Big Society doesn’t require David and his Privileged friends to do their part. They get an Inheritance Tax Cut, an Income Tax Cut and their Businesses can go on making massive profits even at our collective expense.

The Great in Great Britain

I love this country. This wonderful country with its diverse people and its hard work and its sense of humour and its beautiful land. I am a proud patriot. And as a patriot, the Conservative campaign offends me at least as much as it offends me as a March of Progress Socialist. David tells us we need to fix this country, that it’s full of scroungers and immigrants and scofflaw youths. And it’s all Labour’s fault.

This, he says, is Broken Britain.

And he can fix it.

Britain isn’t Broken, David. And if it ain’t broke, we don’t need you to fix it.

I don’t look around and see a broken society. I see a wonderful nation full of wonderful, hard-working people. I see families going out of their way to give their children a chance at University and a better life, I see a diverse range of people coming together in a country world-renowned as a cultural boiling pot. I see the young campaigning and fighting for equality, justice and the greater good. I see them all laughing and joking and drinking together.

And it’s good.

But times are tough, we all know. And that’s why now, more than ever, the way forward is left.

A vote for Labour is a vote to take away some of the burden weighing on all these wonderful people’s shoulders. These are the real Britons. Not billionaires like Ashcroft who don’t live here or work here or contribute to our society.

If the Tories win, we lose, not Labour and not the Lib Dems.

Vote for Labour, A Future Fair For All .

It's time for more drink-related nonsense with another episode of Paul Douglas Drinks to Beverages! This week, the fluid deemed fit for human consumption is Red Bull Cola...You can probably see where this is going. Watch in delight as Paul Douglas succumbs to the torment and terror known only as "Drinking Red Bull Cola"!